ANARCHY 'N' EXPLOSIVES
VOLUME 5 -- 4/3/89
Well, hasn't it been long since Volume 4 of Anarchy 'n' Explosives?
Well, I finally got around to typing up another volume. This one will be
dedicated to the extremely simple and more accessible explosives and
incendiaries to be prepared at home, or laboratory; depending upon the
environment you have access to or are accustomed to.
Anyway, getting back down to business, I must (again), put up this sign:
WARNING: THESE EXPLOSIVES/INCENDIARIES ARE REAL, NOT TOYS. USE
EXTREME CAUTION WHEN PREPARING AND APPLYING WHEN APPLICABLE.
FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH.
USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
Enough of the warnings and notes; for further information and/or
comments on this series of ever popular explosives, contact me (I
don't sign these "publications") on the Knavery BBS at xxx-xxx-xxxx
on the public message base, I should be reading some requests if you
leave them. And, volume number 6 should be coming out sooner than
the time between 4 and 5, but don't count on it.
BULK POWDERS:
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Bulk powders are types of gunpowders consisting of nitrocellulose and a
mixture of other chemically explosive solutions. These nitrocellulose fibers
are stuck together, but are not completely collided. Some contain little else
but nitrocellulose; others contain, in addition to potassium and barium
nitrates, camphor, vaseline, paraffin, lampblack, starch, dextrine, potassium
dichromate or other oxidizing or deterrent salts, and diphenylamine for
stabilization, and are colored in a variety of brilliant hues by means of col-
tar dyes. Three typical bulk powders are made up according to the approximate
formulas tabulated below:
Nitrocellulose........................ 84.0 87.0 89.0
% N in nitrocellulose............... 13.2 12.9 12.9
Potassium nitrate..................... 7.5 6.0 6.0
Barium nitrate........................ 7.5 2.0 3.0
Starch................................ -.- -.- 1.0
Paraffin oil.......................... -.- 4.0 -.-
Diphenylamine......................... 1.0 1.0 1.0
The mixture is mixed in warm water and dried thoroughly. Then either
granulated or made into powder by crushing with a wooden block and screened
through a 12-mesh sieve. The material is then stored in a moisture-resistant
container for future or immediate use.
MERCURY FULMINATE:
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Mercury fulminate is an initiating explosive, commonly appearing as
white or gray crystals. It is extremely sensitive to initiation by heat,
friction, spark or flame, and impact. It detonates when initiated by any of
these means. It is pressed into containers, usually at 3000 psi, for use in
detonators and blasting caps. However, when compressed at greater and greater
pressure (up to 30,000 psi), it becomes "dead pressed." In this condition, it
can only be detonated by another initial detonating agent. Mercury fulminate
gradually becomes inert when stored continuously above 100 degrees F. A dark-
colored product of deterioration gives evidence of this effect. Mercury exfulminate is stored underwater except when there is danger of freezing. Then
it is stored under a mixture of water and alcohol.
Preparation of Mercury Fulminate. Five grams of mercury is addedExt55
cc. of nitric acid (specific gravity 1.42) in a 100-cc. Erlenmeyer flask, and
the mixture is allowed to stand without shaking until the mercury has gone
into solution. The acid liquid is then poured into 50 cc. of 90% alcohol in a
500-cc. beaker in the hood. The temperature of the mixture rises, a vigorous
reaction commences, white fumes come off, and cdata bstals of fulminate soon
begin to precipitate. Red fumes appear and the precipitation of the fulminate
becomes more rapid, then white fumes again as the reaction moderates. After
about 20 minutes, the reaction is over; water is added, and the cdata bstals are
washed with water repeatedly by decantation until the washings are no longer
acid to litmus. The product consists of grayish-yellow cdata bstals, and
corresponds to a good grade of commercial fulminate. It may be obtained white
and entirely pure by dissolving in strong ammonia water, filtering, and
reprecipitating by the addition of 30% acetic acid. The pure fulminate is
filtered off, washed several times with cold water, and stored under water,
or, if a very small amount is desired for experimental purposes, it is dried
in a desiccator.
AMATOL:
=======
Description: amatol is a high explosive, whit to buff in color. It is a
mixture of ammonium nitrate and TNT, with a relative effectiveness slightly
higher than that of TNT alone. Common compositions vary from 80% ammonium
nitrate and 20% TNT to 40% ammonium nitrate and 60% TNT. Amatol is used as
the main bursting charge in artillery shells and bombs. Amatol absorbs
moisture and can form dangerous compounds with copper and brass. Therefore,
it should not be housed in containers of such metals.
BLACK POWDERS:
==============
Black powders burn either quickly or very slowly depending on the
composition of such a mixture; however, these powders produce smoke, often
great amounts, and is most useful in applications where smoke is no object.
It is the best for communicating fire and for producing a quick, hot flame.
Black powder is used in both propellant charges for shrapnel shells, in
saluting and blank fire charges, as the bursting charge of practice shells
and bombs, as a propelling charge in certain pyrotechnic pieces, and, either
with or without the admixture of other substances which modify the rate of
burning, in the time-train rings and in other parts of fuses. Below is a list
of black powders and their compositions.
(Brown)
Name Saltpeter Charcoal Sulfur
England........................ 79 (18) 3
England........................ 77.4 (17.6) 5
Germany........................ 78 (19) 3
Germany........................ 80 (20) -
France......................... 78 (19) 3
Forte...........e...........e 72 15 13 | Blasting
Lente.......................... 40 30 30 |- Black
Ordinaire...........e.......... 62 18 20 | Powders